A smiling Jota has been pictured in Al-Ittihad training despite his transfer termination saga rumbling on.

The former Celtic winger moved to the Saudi club in the summer for a bumper £25million fee, but the switch simply has not gone to plan since.

Jota has scored just once and made a handful of appearances off the bench for his new team and he recently was not registered for the Pro League squad due to the club only being able to register eight foreign players.

The Portuguese winger also picked up an injury in recent weeks, which has hardly helped his chances of fighting his way into contention.

Reports in Saudi now state that Jota is fighting to get his contract terminated so he can find a new home where game time will be a guarantee.

Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen, but for a move to happen Jota would need to be released from his current deal.

Meanwhile, Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri has described Celtic as the “dark horse” of their Champions League group as he warned that Brendan Rodgers’ side would provide the most intense challenge.

Lazio started their campaign with a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid while Celtic lost 2-0 to Feyenoord.

But Sarri felt Celtic deserved more from their performance in Rotterdam before having two men sent off and he dismissed a predictable question from the Italian media about whether he expected a physical encounter in Scotland.

Speaking at a Celtic Park media conference, the former Chelsea manager said: “Celtic are the least physical team in the group, they are a technical side and play with great intensity. If you mean the most intense physical game then yes, but not in the other sense.

“I think Celtic can be the dark horse of this group. Celtic are a very dangerous side, they play with great intensity, speed and movement. I was surprised at how technically well they play.”